I remember a time when theater was considered a special occasion with a bit of formality. It was a special family outing once in a blue moon where we’d dress up and go watch a play or a musical at the local theater. But these days, it seems that the social contract between the performers and audiences is fraying. Not only do you see this in theatres, but also at the cinema, people seem to have no decorum (don’t get me started on the “Minecraft” Movie trend to trash theaters).
The fact of the matter is that there are a few unspoken rules that you just have to follow in a theater: don’t unwrap your noisy candy wrappers mid-movie or performance, turn off your cellphones, don’t talk and be respectful to the people around you. With the age of streaming services and watching movies from the comfort of home, chatting with the people you’re watching with, and multitasking during the movie, it seems like people have forgotten that going to watch a movie at the theater is not the same as watching “Hamilton” on Disney+ where you get to sing-along to all the songs.
The theater is an art form where actors aren’t merely pixels on your screen anymore, they’re right in front of you. The rise of casual entertainment culture has made people forget what it means to be present and respectful.
Live theater is a grafile experience built on trust. The actors trust the audience to be respectful and attentive, and the audience trusts the actors to do a good job on their performance and transport them to somewhere new.
One more thing, theater etiquette isn’t “elitist,” it’s essential. You’re telling me you can’t turn off your phone for 1-2 hours? Live theater is one of the few remaining places where human connection is built face to face. It’s not “content” anymore, its communion.
So next time you go see a performance or a movie, make sure you’re part of the storytelling too, not by being seen or heard but by listening and letting the magic unfold uninterrupted.
